Well, it is official . . . Jake has joined the ranks of Woodmen Campers! This past Saturday, Andy, Luke, Uncle Frank and I brought Jake to his first trip with the Woodmen Campers. Let me give you some history on the subject : ) As young boys, both Jake's Dad and Uncle Frank went to the same camp. It has always been talked about that when Jake turned 8 ( the first year possible) he too would attend Woodmen Camp. So, as they say, the time has come! I probably would not have agreed to him going had there not been this history for our family. It is also nice to know that one of my former co-workers, Kurt, is one of the Camp Directors and that makes me feel better. Andy's whole family has been friends with Kurt and his family since the boys started going to Camp back in 1983! At that time, Kurt was one of the counselors : D Andy went to camp from '83- '87 and has such fond memories of camp. He has for many years talked about everything from archery to canoes, taco night to bull frog races. However, the night before Jake left all of my rational emotion left me and I began to secretly cry after Jake went to bed. I am reminded now of a great poem by Shel Silverstein that some of you may be familiar with called Whatif ( see below) For me, my Whatif's were: what if Jake is scared, what if there is a fire, what if he gets sick, what if he gets attacked by Big Foot . . . . . Well, I was not that irrational, but almost : ) I am happy to report that once I woke up and the new day dawned, I felt so much better. Once we got to camp and saw Kurt again and Andy, Frank, Kurt and another old counselor ( Now the main Camp Director) John started to reminisce, I was no longer anxious or nervous. I was EXCITED for the wonderful opportunity Jake was getting to experience all of the great adventures that they were talking about. I am so happy for Jake to have this chance to learn to make decisions on his own,gain new responsibility,to mature some and to just have some good clean fun!
Though that of course is only figuratively "clean" I am afraid : )
Whatif by Shel Silverstein
Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow tall?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!
